Facts to date

There has been a great response to my query on the Aus_Model_Rail Yahoo Group.


From Brad we have the following:
Hi

A few websites that may be of interest
http://railpix.railmedia.com.au/index.php?uid=1503
http://www.ettamogah-hub.com.au/technology/
http://www.cargosprinter.com/d/wh/akt/pre/093.htm

Basically the Australian version of the cargo sprinter operated with a variety of types of wagons.


Some types used were painted to match the CRT blue these being CQGY & RQGY wagons.


But any type of wagon can be used with the cargo sprinter units.


On 1 occasion they were used on the AK Cars and another time on a RailCorp/ARTC Railset.


Also the Cargo Sprinter spent a period of time in WA.
http://perthtrains.nachohat.org/crt_group/cs/


Currently the units are used together as the shunting unit at the "Ettamogah Rail Hub"
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=292018


Hope some this is of interest till I find my notes including full specs.


Brad

From Chris Jones at CFCLA, we have the following:
 
I have just posted some Cargo Sprinter Details on my blog – http://www.wagonfreak.blogspot.com/
 
To clear the air, the CQGY wagons NEVER ran with the Cargo Sprinter. Simply 3 were painted in CRT blue for a possible contract, but nothing ever happened and the wagons were leased to Lachlan Valley Rail Freight as soon as they were built. From there, they have jumped around a bit between various operators but are all now leased to QR.


Also from Chris:
The CS units themselves took 2 TEU or a 40ft container as a maximum. They are usually seen with 30ft CFT boxes. The wagons that were used on the Melbourne to Sydney testing were Freight Australia VQCY wagons with CRT blue side sills. I have photos from Moss Vale and Botany which I can post when I have access to a slide scanner. The VQCY wagons is a 60ft (3 TEU) wagon, and these particular ones had 30ft IBC (Twistlock) points for CRT 30ft containers.
 
So referring to Chris' photo of one of the power units painted specs we get:

• capacity = 2 x 20' OR 1 x 30' containers on the flatbed (at a pinch 1 x 40' as well),
• length 21.1 mt (unsure if this is buffer beam to buffer beam of coupler to coupler?)
• Also marked on the bogies were a maximum wheel diameter of 890mm and bogie centres of 2.5m

Rod (from the Yahoo Group respondants) mentioned that Colin Rees is model railway friendly and may well be worth the effort in contacting him for assistance on the specs. This I will do. So stay tuned for Mr Rees' reply.


What we know is that when QRNational purchased CRT, the CargoSprinter was not part of the asset transfer. It was retained by Colin Rees Group.